Mike Powers| News-Bulletin photo
Adrianna Berni, wearing turquoise headgear at the Kirby Invitational, was one of four Valencia wrestlers to qualify for the state championships.
Valencia qualified four wrestlers for next week’s all-classes New Mexico State Girls Wrestling Championship in Rio Rancho, while Belen will send three competitors and Los Lunas one.
The top seven finishers in each weight class from last week’s Region 2 Championships in Bayard advanced to the state meet.
VHS was led by senior Zipporah Heneghan (27-6) at 132 pounds and 107-pounder sophomore Alexis Avis-Labus (28-7), who each finished second. Senior Katie Booth (24-4) took third in the 138-pound weight class while Adrianna Berni (29-8), freshman, was seventh at 100 pounds.
“The boys on my team say that I’m a pit bull,” Berni said with a laugh, one week earlier, during the Leonard Kirby Invitational. “We’re working hard in practice. We just don’t give up.”
After impressive Top 10 finishes at Conflict at Cleveland and other tournaments, Berni said other teams have taken notice. “I’m very proud of that.”
For Belen, freshman Olyvia Sanchez (28-12) took fifth at regionals at 114 pounds, junior Lisette Sanchez (33-9) captured fourth at 120 pounds and 126-pounder Audrey Moreira (27-2) was seventh.
“We are very excited about how our girls’ program is starting to grow,” said Belen coach Nick Martinez. “All of the five girls we took to regionals will be back next year.”
Senior Mia Carabajal-Hartog will represent Los Lunas at state after finishing as the 138-pound runner-up.
In the team competition, won by Atrisco Heritage, Valencia was sixth, Belen 10th and Los Lunas 24th.
Mike Powers spent more than 40 years as a television news and sports anchor, mostly in the Albuquerque market. He has won numerous awards including New Mexico Sportscaster of the Year. He covers a wide range of sports, including the Valencia County prep scene.
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April 25, 2024
